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As Christopher Nolan's film 'Odyssey' is a global hit, tensions between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea have resurfaced. The two countries have long experienced clashes over maritime boundaries, and recently, tensions have escalated over the issue of marine park designations. Turkey designated two marine protected areas in the northeastern Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean on the 15th of last month, citing the protection of marine ecosystems. This is interpreted as a countermeasure to Greece's designation of a marine park last year.
The Greek Foreign Ministry immediately responded, claiming that parts of the marine park designated by Turkey overlap with Greece's continental shelf rights. Greece asserts its right to extend its territorial waters to the internationally permitted 12 nautical miles, while Turkey has warned that it would consider this a reason for war. The French newspaper Le Monde pointed out that the recent tensions indicate a resurgence of conflicts that had relatively eased following the major earthquake in Turkey last year.
Additionally, a recent incident involving a Turkish ship sinking has further deteriorated relations between the two countries. This incident, which occurred in the waters north of Cyprus, sparked controversy among Greeks and Greek Cypriots. Greek politicians have fueled the conflict by making hateful remarks towards the victims of the incident. Thus, the disputes surrounding the Aegean Sea and Cyprus remain complexly intertwined with historical backgrounds and current issues.